1 Topic by RICjunkie (edited by RICjunkie 2009-02-09 17:13:50)

  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Topic: Flu shots!

I gotta tell you, as far as my health is concerned this is the best winter I've had in years.
The difference? I got myself a flu shot last October. 
Those of you who know me a little better know I travel extensively.  Cargo class is planes; working on the customer's desktop computers; sleeping in different hotels sometimes almost every night (and I don't know how often they launder or replace the pillows!) gross, yeah...

I'm no medical professional but I'm convinced there is some kind of cross protection provided over to cold viruses.  I haven't had so much as a sniffle all winter.  Last year I had three colds by now and the last one was some serious crud that took me two months to kick.

I won't ever skip on a flu shot from now on.

Major Tom to ground control...
  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Flu shots!

Good for you!!! The annual vaccine is determined months ahead of time. It's a mix of various strains of viruses that are "deactivated". The shot contains the antibodies not the virus and thus wear off. (Whereas shots like the Measles vaccine cause us to produce our own antibodies which last). Inevitably they always think they missed a few important strains.

I think all the exposures you get to "germs" during your travels has actually helped strengthen your resistence. Stay hydrated and wash your hands! smile I'm a believer and also think it's the responsible thing to do...by the time flu symptoms appear you've already infected those close to you. So I thank you for them.               Cathy

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Flu shots!

MsTia believes in 'em.  I don't.  In 1994 I caught something respiratory that lasted 14 months.  I haven't prayed to die since I had withdrawal DTs, but I was close.  I have not been sick with that flu thing since.

But I drink gallons of water, no soda pop, take handfuls of fish oil and vitamins and I WASH MY HANDS,

Most importantly...lots of salsa picante kills germs and makes me sexy.

justaskme
bigjeff

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

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  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: Flu shots!

NOOOO!!!...that's bad JuJu Tom....I dont dare mention the how healthy Ive been tongue.....I didnt get my shot this year, but knock on wood neutral

Shred

  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Re: Flu shots!

I can only but concur with BigJeff. My former employer encouraged a flu jab every year and the company doc duly did the deed. Sure enough I would blag the thing and be at deaths door for 2 weeks. Last time out back in '01 I thought my family would have to start checking out suitable headstones. After recovering I vowed never again.

Haven't had one since and, touching wood, I have been relatively "bug free". Sure, I work in the healthy outdoors now so fresh air and hard liquor seem to be coming thru for me. But its all different strokes for different folks I guess.

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • From: Amsterdam
  • Registered: 2007-10-06
  • Posts: 5,249

Re: Flu shots!

bigjeffjones wrote:

Most importantly...lots of salsa picante kills germs and makes me sexy.

justaskme
bigjeff

lol

My personal medical adviser, who is a believer, persuaded me that this jab would be a 'good thing'. I had it early November. Since then I've had two really nasty 'colds', like where you literally just stream for a couple of days, and am now cultivating an increasingly annoying cough. Of course, I couldn't say how different it might have been if I hadn't had the shot, but I don't remember being struck down three times last winter. In fairness, last winter was much milder. So on balance, I reckon I'm gonna skip it next year, I ain't convinced.

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith
  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Re: Flu shots!

hansamike wrote:

I can only but concur with BigJeff. My former employer encouraged a flu jab every year and the company doc duly did the deed. Sure enough I would blag the thing and be at deaths door for 2 weeks. Last time out back in '01 I thought my family would have to start checking out suitable headstones. After recovering I vowed never again.

Haven't had one since and, touching wood, I have been relatively "bug free". Sure, I work in the healthy outdoors now so fresh air and hard liquor seem to be coming thru for me. But its all different strokes for different folks I guess.

I concur on the fresh air!  The bad bug I got last year was immediately after a 5 day bender swilling lots of malt Scotch in Las Vegas so I'm not so sure about the hard liquor...

Major Tom to ground control...
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Flu shots!

I've never had a flu shot in my life. The wife is a 8th grade math teacher so she's exposed to it all and brings it home to yours truly. I don't get sick easily but I use "Airborne" (thanks Libby!!) now at the first sign of a cold and that stuff does it's job. So far <knock on wood> I've been fine. Not even a runny nose. But theres still 2 months left of winter. Many many years ago when I lived in Tampa, I painted apartments for side work/extra money. It seemed that I'd get sick when I got stuck with a unit that had lots of dust and crud to clean before splashing paint. And yes I'd wear a dust mask.